Accelerating Transformative Change: from Farm-to-Fork

1. Accelerating Transformative Change: from Farm-to-Fork • Brief background on CEFS • How we are approaching transformative change • Recommendations

2. Center for Environmental Farming Systems Mission: To develop and promote agricultural systems that protect the environment, enhance rural and urban communities, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond • Partnership initiated in 1994 • NCSU • NCA&T SU • NCDA &CS www.cefs.ncsu.edu

3. Structure of CEFS (the place) • NCDA&CS owns and operates the facility with approximately 23 staff. • New programming is brought primarily by NCSU and NCA&T SU and its partners through grants or internal allocation of resources. • 35 research, extension, and teaching faculty represent 12 disciplines • Strong working relationships with numerous other organizations • Inclusion of general public

4. Organic Forestry Crop/animal BMP Old Field Program Highlights: Research 81 hectare long-term study Comparison of 5 systems

6. Program Highlights • Academic: Agroecology minor, residential internship, graduate students • Extension and Outreach: workshop series, extension training, public events • Local and Community-based Food Systems

7. Transformative Change: Our Assumptions • Traditional Land Grant University focus (research, extension, academic) are very important components but not enough • Arguments based on “sustainability” or “environment” are not enough • The time is right, right now -the “perfect storm” (minus high fossil fuel prices)- to make transformative change • Demand side is important

8. Transformative Change: Our Assumptions • Big One: “Building a Local Food Economy in North Carolina”-When people start wanting to know where there food is coming from and who is growing it, and learn about how it is grown…… they want foods grown more sustainably • Our research, extension, and teaching initiatives continue to be important and backstop everything we do, But…our Local Foods initiativeseems to be supporting transformational change within the state more than our efforts in the past

9. Across the State We Saw: Community Leadership, Business Entrepreneurship, Regional Planning, Public Policy Southeastern NC Food Systems Project Southeastern NC Food Systems Project

10. But…. • Lack of coordination • Piecemeal approach • Lack of momentum • No “Strategic Plan” to move the state’s Local Food Economy forward • Funders wanted to know where to put their money- what would be successful?

11. New CEFS Initiative:Building a Local Food Economy in NC Initiated in April 2008 with funding from Golden Leaf Foundation, Z Smith Reynolds foundation, Agriculture Advancement Consortium, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Goal was to develop a Statewide Action Plan for building the Local Food Economy describing the current food system, important successful models in the state, and prioritizes policies and programs for the private and public sectors.

12. Economic Development Potential Average household spends $4010 per year per person on food (USDA ARS)… half spent in the home. If just 10% of the $4010 was spent on Local ($.55/person/day)… With 8,8000,000 people in the state (US Census, 2006), local food sales would total $3.5 billion. To meet this demand, we need… enhanced local processing, distribution, transportation infrastructure, more farmers growing diverse products… This all translates to economic development and jobs.

13. Appeals to a wide cross-section Green space and farm viability Carolinians enhanced health and nutrition (and associated decrease in costs) Farmland Preservation Decreased use of fossil fuels and reduced greenhouse gas emissions Enhanced environmental quality Enhanced food security & access for all North

14. The Farm to Fork Local Foods Initiative.. • Established advisory committee (80+) • Regional meetings across the state (6) • Working Issues Teams established (11) • “Game Changer Ideas developed” • Sold out Statewide Summit (400+ attendees) • An active listerv (1000+ subscribers) • Directory of food system activities (www.ncfoodnet.com) • Publication of State Action Guide

15. Some Significant Accomplishments to Date • Legislation establishing Sustainable Local Foods Advisory Council • Whole Farm Gap Certification • Addressing regulatory framework • NC statewide food assessment • Improve access (EBT), increase snap-ed funding • Farm to School (coordinator legislated) • Secured recurring funding for the NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund ($2 million)

17. Some Significant Accomplishments to Date • Golden Leaf Foundation $2.5 million Local Foods Initiative • 10% campaign • Feed the Forces Initiative • Targeted Infrastructure Pieces • Market Development • Sustainable Local Food Policy Council

18. New partners.. • Broad-based commitment from local government officials, nutritionists, farmers and farmer organizations, anti-hunger groups, faith based organizations, youth-based organizations, economic developers, funding partners, entrepreneurs, retailers, consumers, academic institutions and other agencies.

19. Some of our Sponsors.. • Carolina Farm Credit • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of N.C. Foundation • North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation • Compass Group • NC Association of County Commissioners • Heifer International • Carolina Farm Stewardship Association • BRAC-RTF (Fort Bragg) • Burch Farms • Food LogiQ • Grateful Grower Farm

20. 10% Campaign Overview Outcome of Communications Working Issues Team Funded by Golden Leaf Foundation 10% is doable and a place to start (not intimidating!) for the newly engaged, institutions, restaurants, etc. A $3.5 billion endeavor. Make the Choice. Make a Difference. Make it Local.

21. Key Components of the Campaign • Web Portal for signing up individuals, businesses, agencies, and organizations • Basic information: About, Where to Find, Learn More, Events, Partners • Push people out to existing initiatives and information resources • Energize the grassroots

22. Key Components of the Campaign: Transformational Change • Get businesses, organizations, and individuals involved: Three ways to partner • Work with all scale farmers • Address associated barriers • Partnership with Cooperative Extension

23. Cooperative Extension Local Food Coordinators • Respond to businesses signing up • Help promote local foods in their county and help individuals signing up locate them • Assist with community-based interest in establishing local markets • Distribute information about the campaign • Assist farmers in connecting with new markets • Enter events and articles on their website • Assist with addressing barriers • Assist with data collection • Serve local foods at their meetings!

29. Pledge of Purchase Partners • Carolina Farm Stewardship Association • Eastern Carolina Organics • NC Farm Bureau • NC Department of Agriculture • NC Fruits and Veggie Coalition • NC Sea Grant • NC Environmental Education • RAFI-USA • UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention • Compass Group • Both Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture • NCSU Dining Services • Restaurants • Blue Cross Blue Shield • Cabarrus County • Conservation Trust of NC • Slow Food Triangle • RAFI USA • Red Hat • Rex Endowment

30. Keys to Transformational ChangeInternal to Universities • Faculty reward structure • Academic and degree programs • A collaborative place matters • Support for faculty working on policy • Leveraging the “army” • Food Systems not Production Systems

31. Keys to Transformational ChangeExternal to the University • Facilitation and Process • Collaboration and Partnership • Beyond production • Inclusiveness • Promoting a positive message